Case study on delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in the Kingdom of Lesotho
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Case study on delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in the Kingdom of Lesotho
Credits for photos: All photos credited to Help Lesotho. Acknowledgements The UNICEF Eastern and Southern African Regional Office (ESARO) commissioned Child Frontiers to develop a compendium of promising practices on ending harmful practices and violence against children across the region. This documentation was written by Gillian Mann and Emma de Vise-Lewis of Child Frontiers with essential contributions from UNICEF Lesotho Country Office staff, and government, NGOs and other partners. Special thanks go to Mamoletsane Khati and Kate Lambert at Help Lesotho, and to Jean Francois Basse and Mona Aika of UNICEF ESARO for their leadership and support throughout the process of developing the brief. The publication was designed by hopeworks. May 2021
Purpose of the case study The context of adolescent
pregnancy and child
The purpose of this case study is to highlight marriage in Lesotho
a promising programme that has been
identified by UNICEF as contributing to the Child marriage is defined as a formal marriage
delay of adolescent pregnancy and child or informal union that takes place before the age
marriage in Lesotho.* of 18. In many contexts, the practice has been
shown to have profound physical, intellectual,
It provides an outline of the work that is psychological, and emotional impacts, especially
being done, and an analysis of its successes for girls. Children who are poor, live in rural areas
and challenges. The information presented is and/or are out of school are disproportionally at
based on a documentary review and risk of marrying young. Globally, the prevalence
interviews with those involved and available. of child marriage has declined over the last
Its intended audience includes those working decade, with the most progress seen in South
in the areas of research, programmes, and Asia, especially among girls below 15 years of
policy to end child marriage in Lesotho, in age. Nevertheless, in 2020 the total number
the region, and elsewhere, such as UNICEF, of girls married before the age of 18 remained
UNFPA, the Government of Lesotho, donors, at approximately 12 million per year.1 Progress
civil society organisations and academics. must be substantially accelerated to meet the
* UNICEF Lesotho Country Office supports efforts to address child marriage using its own resources. It is not one of the
twelve countries involved in the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage.
3 UNICEF Case study on delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in the Kingdom of Lesotho
Sustainable Development Goal 5.3 of ending girls’ first experience of sexual intercourse was
child marriage by 2030. Moreover, recent and physically forced or coerced.4 Less than half of
growing evidence from the COVID-19 pandemic these girls told someone about this violence
suggests that some of these gains have been when they experienced it, and only 8 percent
lost over the past year and thus an even greater received health and other services.5 A further
investment is needed than earlier predicted.2 13.5 percent reported having become pregnant
before age 18.6 Earlier data (the 2014 Lesotho
Getting married as an adolescent is a Demographic and Health Survey) found that
longstanding practice in Lesotho,3 as it is in among sexually active females 15-19 years old,
many societies across the Southern Africa 79.9 percent were not using any contraception.7
region and globally. The drivers of the practice
have varied over time and across contexts. Pregnancy is considered an undesirable
Traditionally, these unions were a means of condition for an unmarried girl in most
formalising reciprocal relationships between communities in Lesotho.8 Many pregnant girls
families and solidifying social networks. The leave school, either because familial investment
social and cultural norms underlying marriage- in school fees is no longer considered a priority
related decisions still inform the choices that or affordable, because school authorities
girls, boys, and their families make. Today, required them to drop out, or because stigma,
these norms work in concert with two main discrimination and condemnation from peers
drivers: poverty and pregnancy. These two and staff make going to school intolerable.9
issues are intertwined and their relationship The personal and social consequences are
to child marriage is bi- and tri-directional. Girls also felt within families, who may ill-treat a girl
who live in poverty – either with their parents, in these circumstances because they feel a
other caregivers, or family members, or as sense of shame, disgrace and loss of honour;
heads of household in which parents have community members may also insult and
died or have migrated for work – are in need of verbally abuse pregnant unmarried girls, or
food, clothing, transport and other necessities. treat them in other demeaning or damaging
Many must engage in risky behaviours to meet ways. The economic penalties may include
these needs; often this means engaging in exacerbated levels of poverty and lower
transactional sex with older men who promise levels of employment and income-earning
to provide them with material and/or financial opportunities. The impacts on girls’ mental
support. Many girls lack information and health and wellbeing can be significant; across
access to contraceptive methods and sexual the country girls in these circumstances have
and reproductive health more generally. Even described feelings of helplessness, anger,
among those who are informed, differentials rejection and self-recrimination.10 These
in age, gender and wealth mean those in struggles may be worsened by the potential
© UNICEF/UN0410888/Ayene
these relationships typically do not have a say health outcomes that poor, marginalized girls
in whether a condom is used or not. In these who are pregnant may encounter, such as
and other similar circumstances, girls may get contracting HIV: although adolescent girls and
pregnant. The recent Violence Against Children young women represent only 11 percent of the
and Youth Survey (2018 data) found that among national population, they account for 25 percent
18-24 year old females, 11 percent had their of new infections.11 Pregnancy also puts them
sexual debut before age 15, and 18 percent of at risk of anaemia, post-partum haemorrhage
4 UNICEF Case study on delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in the Kingdom of Lesotho
connection between the pregnant girl and the
boy or man involved that brings with it a set of
rights and responsibilities, social supports, and
a cemented bond between families. For the
most vulnerable girls, these hoped-for benefits
provide them and their families with a sense
of security, at least in theory, that a child will
be raised in the best possible (or least harmful
or problematic) conditions, with a sense of
belonging and all of the benefits that come
with membership in an extended social group.
In Lesotho, nearly one in five girls marries
before the age of 18 (19.4%, 2018).14 As with
unintended adolescent pregnancy, rates of
marriage are higher among girls in rural areas
(24.9% vs 13.8% urban),15 and among those
who are the poorest and have the lowest levels
of schooling.16 Low rates of birth registration
across the country suggest that these figures
are underestimates of the actual numbers of
child marriages.17 Although marriage is often
pursued as a means of mitigating the financial,
social and other difficulties that girls and families
face, it nevertheless poses serious threats to
their development and wellbeing.18 This fact
was emphasized in 2017, when World Vision
and obstetric fistula, among other problems.12 identified child marriage as the top national child
protection issue.19 For those girls who are not
In Lesotho, this reality is borne out in statistics. pregnant when they marry, pregnancy typically
The LDHS (2014) indicates that adolescent happens soon thereafter. In addition to the
pregnancy is most common among girls and health, social, economic and other risks outlined
young women who live in rural areas, have above, girls in this situation face an even greater
low levels of formal education and are living likelihood that they will not resume schooling and
in poverty.13 More than half of adolescent will have few opportunities to pursue vocational
pregnancies and childbearing happen to girls training or other means of skill enhancement and
© UNICEF/UN0410888/Ayene
before they reach 18 years of age. Girls and/ social engagement.20 Moreover, pregnancy and
or their families may try to mitigate these pregnancy-related deaths are a leading cause
overwhelmingly negative repercussions by of mortality for married and unmarried girls
getting married. Situating adolescent pregnancy between the ages of 15-19 in Lesotho.21 The
within the context of marriage diminishes the interconnectedness of adolescent pregnancy
social stigma and other costs associated with and child marriage in Lesotho requires that
it. Importantly, it also establishes a formal the two issues be tackled in tandem.
5 UNICEF Case study on delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in the Kingdom of Lesotho
The Government of the Kingdom
of Lesotho and UNICEF’s efforts to
reduce adolescent pregnancy and
child marriage
Lesotho has a plural legal system in which
laws related to child marriage co-exist and
contradict each other. This lack of harmonization
is evident in the Marriage Act (1974), which
stipulates that a girl may marry at the age of
16 (and a boy at 18) provided there is parental
consent, while the Children’s Protection and
Welfare Act (2011) states that marriage before
the age of 18 is unlawful, and that a child
who is being forced to marry is in need of
urgent protection.22 International and regional
conventions to which Lesotho is a signatory
also fix 18 years as the minimum age of
marriage.23 Customary law (Laws of Lerotholi),
which governs family and community life in
many parts of the country, allows a girl or
boy to marry, as long as they have reached Lesotho began its efforts to harmonize all
puberty. Although technically illegal, many relevant laws and policies. It tabled the Motion
marriages are negotiated according to custom to Eradicate Child Marriages in Lesotho on July
and not reported to the authorities. Impunity 4, 2016. Shortly thereafter, Parliament adopted
means that traditional practices like elopement the SADC Model Law on Eradication of Child
(chobeliso), in which a girl is abducted for Marriages. Government also began consultations
marriage, are prevalent in some regions.24 These with Chiefs, community councillors, religious
contradictions in legislation also enable practices leaders, parliamentarians, and other decision-
like the marrying of girls who have been makers. In 2017, a mass-media advocacy
victims of sexual abuse to their perpetrator. 25 campaign was launched to raise awareness
of the harms of the practice among a broad
In line with SDG Target 5.3, the Government spectrum of audiences at the grassroots and
of Lesotho has committed to the elimination national level. This work was done in conjunction
of child, early and forced marriage by 2030. with the African Union campaign to end child
The country began its efforts in 2015, after the marriage in Africa, also launched that year. It
African Union declared child marriage to be a was led by the Ministry of Social Development,
harmful practice and a major barrier to social, in collaboration with the Ministries of Health,
human, and economic development on the Police, Education, UNICEF, and several civil
continent. Later that year, and in recognition society organisations and is still ongoing. In April
of the challenges posed by child marriage and 2018, Princess Senate Seeiso (born in 2001)
adolescent pregnancy (both as cause and effect), was engaged as a figurehead of the movement.
6 UNICEF
UNICEF Case
Case study
study on
on delaying
delaying adolescent
adolescent pregnancy
pregnancy and
and child
child marriage
marriage in
in the
the Kingdom
Kingdom of
of Lesotho
LesothoPromising practice to delay the age
of marriage and first pregnancy
As part of efforts to reach people of all ages girls and boys from across these districts are
across the country, a number of activities recruited as volunteers, to act as ‘Champions’
were carried out on the ground in villages. to enrich and grow the movement. All are
A spinoff of these initiatives is one led by Help provided with information about laws relating
Lesotho, called GIRL4ce*. A youth-led to gender-based violence and child marriage,
movement to end child marriage and sexual practical training on how to present these issues
and gender-based violence, GIRL4ce uses through creative means and to organise events,
drama, dialogue, speeches, songs and and support to build their skills to facilitate
interactive activities to engage, educate and conversations in communities, at schools,
mobilize people of all ages to better protect churches, workplaces, and in other social
and empower girls and women in Lesotho. settings. Young people work in teams to carry
out activities and then debrief and discuss them
In the five years since it began, the movement with people of all ages. In practice, the model
has grown and its efforts have become more works like a snowball – individuals watch or
targeted. Initially, activities were undertaken listen to Girl4ce plays and songs, participate in
in Leribe and Butha Buthe districts only. Now, discussions with others, become interested in
Girl4ce works in 3 additional districts, including being involved themselves, receive training and
Berea, Quthing and Thaba Tseka. Adolescent support to further spread the word, and so on.
* More information about Girl4ce and Help Lesotho can be found at www.helplesotho.org.
7 UNICEF Case study on delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in the Kingdom of LesothoProgramme achievements In Lesotho, amplifying the voices of those
affected by pregnancy, marriage and GBV
Girl4ce is one part of a broader effort across means recognising that boys and young
Lesotho to delay adolescent pregnancy and men also have experience and insights
child marriage. Its efforts are understood to share. Their engagement in the work
to complement and strengthen the efforts of GIRL4ce has not only provided the
of civil society and government; awareness movement with supportive allies, but it
raising is one part of a suite of interventions, has also raised important issues related to
services and approaches that are being young males’ experience of exploitation,
implemented across the country. abuse, and violence. It is this team-based
approach that makes the messages
The Girl4ce movement has proven an more interesting and, potentially, more
effective means of sharing information in acceptable to families and communities,
creative ways about sensitive topics with a including those without daughters.
wide range of people. Because Champions
are themselves members of nearby “I take pride in respecting women
communities, their messages are understood and girls and treating them with
to be less judgemental and threatening than love. It is doable. Maybe you
those that come from outsiders. Using drama should try it sometime.” (Motebang
and song and other means of sharing has Mosola, GIRL4ce Champion)
enabled people to connect to the stories
of imaginary others, stories that resonate With time and experience, a critical mass
locally in meaningful and lasting ways. In of engaged young people and adult allies
so doing, communities have been able to has developed, and the movement is
critically reflect on the drivers of adolescent now furthering discussion through social
pregnancy, child marriage and gender-based media sites such as WhatsApp and
violence (GBV) and to begin to challenge the Facebook, and via local meet-up groups.
myths and assumptions that contribute to GIRL4ce Champions regularly visit local
keeping these practices in place. Champions radio stations to share information and
and participants connect to each other and answer call-in questions about GBV and
describe feeling a shared sense of ownership child marriage to a wider audience. To
and responsibility to make change and to further extend the reach of the GIRL4ce
bring others on board to join the movement. movement, television stations have recently
run pre-recorded dramas in Sesotho.
“I had always known that violence
is real, however I never personalised “I am very lucky to be part of the GIRL4ce
it or tried to understand the pain it Core, because I can ask for my rights
causes for the victims.” ( A new Champion, and I am able to advocate for others
after witnessing a drama performance) who can’t fight for themselves. Before
I was part of this I was not aware of
Another achievement of the Girl4ce so many issues. Now I am a different
movement is its success in involving boys person from before I was part of the
and young men as educators and facilitators. Core.” (Maseleke, GIRL4ce Champion)
8 UNICEF Case study on delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in the Kingdom of LesothoChallenges faced and future directions
The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular the trusting relationships slowly and support
restrictions related to group gatherings, has change through ongoing interaction and
meant that community-based performances repeated messaging.
have been paused since March 2020. The
inability to use its traditional means of Contradictory customary and
information sharing and discussions has statutory laws related to GBV and
required the movement to re-think how child marriage makes clear messaging
it can best share its resources under the difficult. GIRL4ce Champions try to
current circumstances. Efforts are now respond to these challenges with facts, in
underway to strengthen GIRL4ce’s social an effort to demystify harmful beliefs.
media presence and to develop more
interactive drama presentations via radio, Getting influential local leaders and
using post-production call-in shows, using village chiefs onside is challenging
a question-and-answer format. The use at times. Addressing GBV and child
of other non-formal and distance-based marriage requires a redistribution of
mechanisms are also being explored. power and acceptance of responsibility;
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic these changes are sometimes slow in the
GIRL4ce has continued to communicate making.
with rural communities in ways that did not
require person-to-person contact, including The dramas include humour as a tool for
newspaper advertisements, billboards, audience engagement. Moving from
print brochures and an essay and poetry humour to the serious issues being
competition. GIRL4ce has adopted the addressed takes skillful acting and
slogan ‘Do the Right Thing’ to highlight genuine conveyance of emotions
the responsibility that all members of which can be challenging for beginner-
the community have in stopping GBV. level Champions.
Other challenges include: For some audience members, the
content of GIRL4ce performances
Champion turnover – youth are rarely triggers difficult memories. GIRL4ce
able to commit for long periods of time does its best to make events and
(they start school, find jobs, move to performances safe spaces for all
try to find jobs, etc.). This reality means community members, but the content
that training new members is a constant is too close to reality for many women
imperative. Doing so, however, provides who see themselves in the characters
an important opportunity to keep the portrayed. GIRL4ce Champions are
delivery mechanisms and content fresh trained in psychosocial support so that
with new perspectives and ideas. they can help people process their
emotions in these instances, and connect
Behaviour change is a long-term effort them to other supports, as needed.
that requires patience and commitment.
GIRL4ce Champions work to build
9 UNICEF Case study on delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in the Kingdom of LesothoKey learning
Delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage is a pressing priority for those working to support
children’s protection and wellbeing in Lesotho. The efforts of UNICEF, UNFPA, the Government of
Lesotho and numerous civil society organisations have been directed towards the harmonization
of laws and awareness raising at the community level of the risks and potential consequences
of marrying, giving birth, and becoming a parent at an early age. GIRL4ce, an initiative of Help
Lesotho, has developed a creative means of exploring these issues with community members in
diverse settings. The resourcefulness and commitment of young people to share information and
promote dialogue has enabled public discussions of what have traditionally been private issues.
In terms of future strategies, it will be important to ensure that efforts to tackle pregnancy
and marriage are incorporated into the soon-to-be-draft violence against children National
Action Plan. Having one plan of action will help to avoid the fragmentation of child protection
interventions; a consolidated strategy will promote integrated, multi-sectoral programmes to
tackle the shared structural risk factors for VAC, child marriage and adolescent pregnancy to
ensure a holistic response to addressing girls’ and boys’ needs. Moreover, the significance
of these issues requires that government and development partners invest in this area
of work. Finally, it is important that investments are made to address gaps in data and
understanding so that effective responses can be developed and implemented at scale.
10 UNICEF
UNICEF Case
Case study
study on
on delaying
delaying adolescent
adolescent pregnancy
pregnancy and
and child
child marriage
marriage in
in the
the Kingdom
Kingdom of
of Lesotho
LesothoSources
[1] https://data.unicef.org/topic/child-protection/child- [15] Lesotho Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2018, p. 183.
marriage; UNICEF (2016) Child marriage in Eastern and https://mics-surveys-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MICS6/
Southern Africa: Determinants, consequences and the way Eastern%20and%20Southern%20Africa/Lesotho/2018/
forward. Nairobi: UNICEF; https://www.unicef.org/zambia/ Survey%20findings/Lesotho%202018%20MICS%20
reports/ending-child-marriage-programme-zambia-country- Survey%20Findings%20Report_English.pdf [Access date
profile-2018. 9 April 2021].
[2] UNICEF (March 2021) COVID-19: A threat [16] https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR309/FR309.
to progress against child marriage. New York: pdf.
UNICEF. https://data.unicef.org/resources/
[17] World Vision International (June 2019) It take
covid-19-a-threat-to-progress-against-child-marriage/
partnerships: Case study Lesotho: Strengthening
[3] Ansell, N., Hajdu, F., van Blerk, L. & E. Robson (2017) government efforts. www.wvi.org/ittakesaworld
‘My happiest time’ or ‘my saddest time’? The spatial and
[18] de Monchy, M (2015:8) Desk Review and Initial
generational construction of marriage among youth in rural
Assessment of Violence against Children In Lesotho.
Malawi and Lesotho. Transactions of the Institute of British
Maseru: UNICEF.
Geographers. doi: 10.1111/tran.12211.
[19] World Vision International (June 2019) It take
[4] Ministry of Social Development of Lesotho, ICAP, and
partnerships: Case study Lesotho: Strengthening
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020)
government efforts. www.wvi.org/ittakesaworld
Violence Against Children and Youth Survey, 2018. Maseru,
Lesotho: Ministry of Social Development of Lesotho. [20] Lesotho Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2018, p. 180.
https://icap.columbia.edu/wp-content/uploads/Lesotho- https://mics-surveys-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MICS6/
2018-VACS-Report_final-web.pdf Eastern%20and%20Southern%20Africa/Lesotho/2018/
Survey%20findings/Lesotho%202018%20MICS%20
[5] Ibid.
Survey%20Findings%20Report_English.pdf [Access date
[6] Ibid. 9 April 2021].
[7] https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR309/FR309. [21] Lesotho Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2018, p. 180.
pdf. https://mics-surveys-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MICS6/
Eastern%20and%20Southern%20Africa/Lesotho/2018/
[8] UNESCO et al. (Feb 2018). Situational analysis on
Survey%20findings/Lesotho%202018%20MICS%20
early and unintended pregnancy in eastern and southern
Survey%20Findings%20Report_English.pdf [Access date
Africa. https://www.youngpeopletoday.org/wp-content/
9 April 2021].
uploads/2019/04/Unesco_EUP_Report_2018_LOW_RES.
pdf [Access date: 9 April 2021] [22] Children’s Protection and Welfare Act (2011) http://
www.ilo.org/dyn/natlex/natlex4.detail?p_lang=en&p_
[9] UNESCO et al. (May 2018). Situational analysis on early
isn=106492&p_count=5&p_classification=04.01 [Access
and unintended pregnancy in Lesotho school system.
date: 11 April 2021].
Maseru: UNESCO.
[23] For example, the UN Convention on the Rights of
[10] Ibid (May 2018).
the Child (1992), the Convention on the Elimination of All
[11] https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR309/FR309. Forms of Discrimination Against Women (1995), the African
pdf. Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (1999), and
[12] UNESCO et al (Feb 2018). UNESCO et al. (Feb the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, Protocol
2018). Situational analysis on early and unintended on the Rights of Women in Africa (2004), all of which set
pregnancy in eastern and southern Africa. https://www. the minimum age for marriage at 18 years.
youngpeopletoday.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ [24] Maphaha, N (Oct 2016:6) Inception report on
Unesco_EUP_Report_2018_LOW_RES.pdf [Access date: community and school intervention on violence against
9 April 2021] children and child marriage. Maseru: UNICEF.
[13] https://www.dhsprogram.com/pubs/pdf/FR309/FR309. [25] Ibid (Oct 2016); de Monchy, M (2015:8) Desk Review
pdf. All statistics in the paragraph are derived from the and Initial Assessment of Violence against Children In
LDHS (2014). Lesotho. Maseru: UNICEF.
[14] Lesotho Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey 2018, p. 183.
https://mics-surveys-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/MICS6/
Eastern%20and%20Southern%20Africa/Lesotho/2018/
Survey%20findings/Lesotho%202018%20MICS%20
Survey%20Findings%20Report_English.pdf [Access date
9 April 2021]. 1% of girls marry before they reach 15 years
of age.
11 UNICEF Case study on delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in the Kingdom of Lesotho12 UNICEF Case study on delaying adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in the Kingdom of Lesotho
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